The Academy Blog

There is a special kind of magic that settles into a home once Advent begins. It is gentle and quiet, like candlelight flickering against early darkness, siblings sitting close under a blanket, the soft rustle of evergreen boughs, and the hush that enters the room when Scripture is read aloud. In a world that races through December, Advent offers something different. It invites families into a rhythm that is slower, warmer, and deeply human. Parents need this rhythm just as much as their children do. Children need quiet and story and closeness. Parents do too. Middle schoolers who seem independent still need warmth and wonder. Parents who carry responsibilities and burdens still need the peace that comes from candlelit prayer and shared tradition. At our most recent General HSA meeting, Mrs. Peach Smith reflected on narration as the voice of the Trivium and the power of story to shape the mind and heart. Her words echoed what Advent naturally provides. Children listen, ponder, retell, and make meaning. And parents find themselves doing the same. Below are twelve Advent traditions that bring warmth, beauty, peace, and memory to families with children from Pre K through eighth grade and that nourish the hearts of...

It is Allhallowtide, the sacred three day season when the Church, in her wisdom, invites us to look beyond the visible and contemplate the mysteries of the Four Last Things: death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell. The world may celebrate these days with costumes and candy, but the Church celebrates something far deeper: the victory of life over death and the...

At St. Ann Classical Academy, our mission is guided by a simple but profound vision: to form saints and scholars. We firmly believe that education is far more than preparation for college or a career; it is preparation for life, both in this world and in the world to come. Consequently, the phrase, “Equipped for today, fitted for Heaven,” expresses this timeless vision. It reminds us...

Two young men. Two lives. Two centuries. One Faith. The recently canonized Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati are two models for our youth to look up to not as distant figures in a book. Instead, as individuals who lived lives not too dissimilar from the academia they receive instruction in nor the struggles of youth as they live and grow. What sets them apart is...

History serves as the cornerstone of Catholic Classical Education, enabling students to go beyond memorizing facts and delve into primary sources to deepen their understanding. At St. Ann Classical Academy, history is more than a subject—it is a vital foundation that integrates with other disciplines, fostering critical thinking and inspiring students to...

So what is Catholic classical education and how does it differ from a Catholic education not modified by the adjective Classical? Differences between Catholic Classical Education and Catholic Education Many prospective St. Ann’s parents attended Catholic school and experienced Catholic education firsthand. For those who attended non-Catholic private schools or even public schools, the pedagogical methodology...

St. Ann Classical Academy’s Pre-K program is developmentally designed to prepare your child for a classical education.  Our program engages students in rich literature filled with strong vocabulary and lessons of God’s love.  Students begin to cultivate the skill of memorization in an enjoyable manner which will assist in student’s future success.  As every child is different, students are encouraged, nurtured, and allowed to develop.   Our program consists of circle time, introduction to the alphabet and numbers, creative play and movement.  Students learn about beauty through art and music. A love of outdoor discovery...

In Roman Catholic tradition, few practices evoke as much reverence and unity as the act of praying the holy rosary in Latin.  This centuries-old devotion, steeped in historical and spiritual significance, serves as a profound testament to the unbreakable bonds that bind the Catholic faithful across the globe.  As beads slip through fingers and prayers rise in the universal language of the Church, believers find themselves linked not only in faith but in a shared journey towards spiritual fruitfulness and communion with each other in Christ....

The quadrivium (arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy) and the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) make up the seven classical liberal arts of antiquity.  This is the education that the great minds of the past such as Plato, Aristotle, and Saint Thomas Aquinas would have received.  However, if you were to do a Google search on classical education, you would see much fanfare regarding the trivium, but little on the quadrivium.  So much so in fact, that one could easily mistake that classical education is nothing more than reading great books and learning Latin.  However, the quadrivium is not merely an afterthought tacked on to the trivium, but a vital component of the classically educated mind...

New Jersey, affectionately known as the "Garden State", is not only famed for its diverse landscapes but is also a home to numerous educational gems that offer a range of enriching learning experiences. As we navigate the ever-changing educational landscape, the role and significance of private education have come into sharper focus. In this blog post I aim to shed light on the importance of private schools as a viable and sometimes preferred alternative to public schooling.